Bedford based promoter of burlesque events

For the very first time ever Extravaganza comes to Bedford – the biggest Burlesque & Drag legends from around the world are united for one night only at the glamorous and stylish EMPIRE nightclub in Mill Street.

Its Vaudeville gone volatile; couture costumes, the best Drag & Burlesque from an all-star cast, an oh-so-steamy score and mind-boggling specialty acts exploding onto the stage in the cheekiest show you will have ever seen in this damn town!
A truly unique evening of entertainment in the heart of Bedford town center, no other show can come close to its twirling tassels and fine performance art. Featuring top international Burlesque and Drag acts brought together as one for this unforgettable show.

This is a seated event with 10 persons per table. Seats are available on a first come first served basis. Limited VIP tables located at the front of the stage.

Early bird tickets start at £16 until the 31st March whist VIP front of house seats are £20 limited.

Dress to impress. . . we dare you.

Background:

We want to bring Burlesque back to Bedford as well as trying something new by combining it with Drag. We visited several venues in 2016 and found EMPIRE on Mill street to be the perfect setting for our glamorous party night. The evening will run from 9pm. We encourage the audience to dress up for this spectacular show and party the night away in style until the early hours.

Victoria Kahl: “I’m a huge fan of drag queens, and I’ve been attending shows for a few years now across the UK. We’ve had the beginnings small scene here, especially when the Glambassador of Bedford, Eddie Adams, was in town. I’m passionate about drag, beauty and femininity. I want to help create something amazing where I live, and best of all, a show I really want to see myself. I’m thrilled to be able bring EXTRAVAGANZA to life and bring brilliant performers to Bedford.”

Chris White: “I’m a big fan of going out in Bedfordshire to gigs, pubs and restaurants. Since moving here from London two years ago, I have always been impressed with the wealth of entertainment in the town and I know our event will just add to it. I became interested in the Burlesque scene whist living in London. We had a dancer at our wedding” & my wife Charlotte wrote a book called Burlesque baking!

Vintage enthusiast and internationally published PinUp Model Lillian Love is a nominee in the Pin Up model category for the National Vintage Awards!

Lillian says;

“I’ve been a vintage enthusiast for over 10 years and I’ve always loved Pin-Up Art and Classic Hollywood Glamour. I’ve enjoyed old black and white Hollywood movies since I was a child – I remember rainy afternoons watching them with my Mum and Sister and spending hours afterwards drawing costumes! I remember wanting to look like Ava Gardner and dance like Cyd Charisse.

I finally got up the courage to start my Pin-Up modelling page in February 2013. I decided to use my Grandmother’s maiden name as my Pin-Up name because I’ve always admired her. Once I got a portfolio together, I put myself forward for more shoots with a range of photographers. The last year or so has been incredible! I’ve enjoyed every moment and I have been lucky enough to work with some amazingly talented photographers, models, designers, makeup artists and hairstylists.

A friend mentioned that there was a pinup category (at the National Vintage Awards) this year and suggested I enter. I wasn’t feeling particularly confident about it, but they convinced me to give it a go so here I am! I’m really grateful to them for getting me to enter the awards – whether I win or not, its fantastic just being part of it!”

The Suitcase Bazaar is back for it’s third outing. Sunday the 4th of May will see some lovely traders dusting off their well-traveled cases and bringing them along to the Burnaby Arms filled with new exciting things for you to browse!

With cake and a whole pub to relax in before and after you do your shopping, I’m not sure there is a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

A group of Bedford based artists, film makers and event organisers are inviting music, comedy and film lovers to take part in the filming of a new pilot internet TV podcast.

Billed as a mix between “Later with Jools Holland” and “TFI Friday” The Rough Cut Sessions aims to bring together bands, comedians and directors to create a decidedly different Friday night out and to put Bedford on the map.

Holy Moly’s at Bedford Esquires will play host to live, musical performances, interviews and comedy where the audience are invited to ask questions, chat with the hosts while enjoying the show, which will be available to view on the Internet the following week.

The show’s director/producer, Tom B Wild, lectures in Media at Bedford College and has produced promotional videos for local music acts and for organisations including We Are Bedford and Bedford BID. He said ‘We wanted to do something completely different. We have loads going on in this town, and this is a great way to shout about it, not just to people who live here but also to people who don’t.’

Emily Finney, event organiser who brought the first Burlesque shows to Bedford and Jimmy Mann, also a media lecturer at Bedford College, best known for his off the cuff, spontaneous energy and bizarre hyperactive humour, will be hosting the show. ‘We’re both really excited by this project and hope that it is only the first of many to come’, says Emily.

The first show will include music by An Army of Lights, Rebecca De Winter and CC Smugglers, stand-up from Hatty Ashdown, and award winning short film ‘It’s Natural to be Afraid’, written by Neil Fox and directed by Justin Doherty. The team will also be inviting local hairstylist Sarah Dunn from Sarah’s Doo Wop Dos to create a hairstyle on one of the audience members during the ‘Do that Do’ challenge.

Topped off with a DJ set from Chloe T (Supersonic) this pilot show and subsequent podcast look to deliver what is sure to be a fantastic night out and must see home viewing.

The live show will be filmed Friday 17th August at Holy Moly’s Bedford Esquires. Tickets are £2 and available from Danny’s Bar (Over 18’s only) Doors open at 8:00pm for a 8:30pm sharp start!

The show will be available on Youtube the following week. You can find out more by visiting the Rough Cut Sessions Facebook Page or by following them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Roughcutsession

This evening I was asked to be on the amazing radio show Harry and Edna on the Wireless which is a radio programme broadcast & recorded live every Wednesday between 7 & 8pm. (UK time). The guests included myself, Little Miss Mischief and Sarah’s Doo wop dos.

Harry & Edna on the Wireless provides a contemporary take on the growing 1920′s ~ 1950′s vintage scene. Featuring some of the finest purveyors of vintage all set to a backdrop of ‘tip top’ gramophone music from both original and contemporary artists.

My obsession with vintage started young, I loved bargain hunting in charity shops finding that one off piece that looked like nothing in the shops. Vintage lovers were more often than not people who loved that moment when someone would say “oh I love your dress” and they could reply “ thanks, 10p from salvo army” it’s a badge you can wear with pride you earn that respect from other women for your hunting skills.

More recently it has become main-stream, with the current economic climate people seem to want to recreate the glamour of the ‘good old days’ with fantastic events like the local Glenn Miller Twinwoods and other events such as Pickering 1940’s weekend going from strength to strength with people finding more and more reasons to live the vintage life to the full. Its not just clothing and hair but the cars and the furniture and the lifestyle.

Bedford has its own group of ladies and gents who love to get dolled up and spice up our lovely town with their glamour and there are some great local events inspired by the past like the 40′s SWEETHEARTS SWINGOUT. Plus with the opening of the Rose-tinted Vintage emporium in Clair Court vintage has a new home. RTV also houses a vintage hair salon run by Sarah Doo Wop Do’s so it really is easier than ever to get that vintage look!

All this is fantastic news for vintage hunters like me and though some may feel the scene is losing its special quality, they couldn’t be more wrong. The great thing about vintage is no too items are alike, so we should welcome and encourage new people to the scene as they discover the joys of vintage and retro and the thrill of discovering their own individual style. And for us battle hardened vintage bargain hunters, well we can just challenge ourselves to find that ever elusive, dream item that may be in the next loft, shop, car boot!

My obsession with vintage started young, I loved bargain hunting in charity shops finding that one off piece that looked like nothing in the shops. Vintage lovers were more often than not people who loved that moment when someone would say “oh I love your dress” and they could reply “ thanks, 10p from salvo army” it’s a badge you can wear with pride you earn that respect from other women for your hunting skills.More recently it has become main-stream, with the current economic climate people seem to want to recreate the glamour of the ‘good old days’ with fantastic events like the local Glenn Miller Twinwoods and other events such as Pickering 1940’s weekend going from strength to strength with people finding more and more reasons to live the vintage life to the full. Its not just clothing and hair but the cars and the furniture and the lifestyle.

Bedford has its own group of ladies and gents who love to get dolled up and spice up our lovely town with their glamour and there are some great local events inspired by the past like the 40′s SWEETHEARTS SWINGOUT. Plus with the opening of the Rose-tinted Vintage emporium in Clair Court vintage has a new home. RTV also houses a vintage hair salon run by Sarah Doo Wop Do’s so it really is easier than ever to get that vintage look! All this is fantastic news for vintage hunters like me and though some may feel the scene is losing its special quality, they couldn’t be more wrong. The great thing about vintage is no too items are alike, so we should welcome and encourage new people to the scene as they discover the joys of vintage and retro and the thrill of discovering their own individual style. And for us battle hardened vintage bargain hunters, well we can just challenge ourselves to find that ever elusive, dream item that may be in the next loft, shop, car boot!

Alright, folks! It’s the best time of year at Esquires again… HALLOWEEN!

Join Chloe and Amanda for a Supersonic special edition in Holy Moly’s after Alike Cooper (with LoveGün supporting) upstairs. LoveGün will also be available for autographs in Holy Moly’s so best start queueing now…

- FREE ENTRY
- Hands-down the best music in town
- Bloodcurdling cocktails
- Diabolical decorations
- Sinister sweets
(- Abhorrent alliteration)
- Prizes for best dressed so you gotta be nasty!
More details to follow…

Anyone who came last year will remember what an awesome night it was :D

Our friend Sarah at Sarah’s Doo-Wop Dos is going to be running a workshop where she will share her vintage hair skills and help people learn how to create a great vintage look at home.

The workshop will be at the lovely Rose-tinted Vintage shop (4 Clair Court, Bedford). In her own words Sarah will be; “helping you to create everyday wearable but stunning styles from the 1940s and 50s. I’ll show you how to curl your hair, the techniques I use on a daily basis, what products to use and how to dress the style with accessories for the time period. Learn in a fun & friendly environment and on top of that we’ll be keeping the tea and cake flowing plus you’ll leave with my ‘Hair Help’ goody bag:) ”

Our lovely friend Katrina from Rose-tinted Vintage Bedford is opening an exciting new vintage shop in Bedford’s town centre. On Saturday September 3rd the doors open and she’ll be in business! We’ll be on hand to support her with a posse of vintage clad lovelies to give out free gifts to the seriously stylish and support her in this exciting new venture and we hope you will too!